Official Statistics

DESNZ Public Attitudes Tracker: Net Zero and climate change, Summer 2025, UK

Published 28 October 2025

The DESNZ Public Attitudes Tracker is a nationally representative annual survey of adults (aged 16+) in the UK that tracks public awareness, attitudes and behaviours relating to the policies of the Department for Energy Security and Net Zero (DESNZ), such as energy and climate change.

This report provides a summary of the headline findings relating to Net Zero and climate change from the Summer 2025 wave of the Tracker, which ran from 8 July to 13 August 2025.

Notes for interpretation of findings

Differences between groups are only reported where they are statistically significant at the 95% confidence interval level.

The annual personal income referred to in the report is a self-reported measure.

Line charts included in this report, based on a longer time series, use abbreviated season names in the x-axis (e.g. Summer 2025 = Sum 2025). 

The age-related findings are reported using six age groups (16-24, 25-34, 35-44, 45-54, 55-64 65 and over). In some cases, findings across age groups have been combined to describe a general trend, for example, ‘between 78% and 88% of people aged 45 and above’ refers to the range of percentages for the three age groups 45-54, 55-64 and 65+.

Please note that some of the geographical findings have fluctuated over time. These variations may, in part, be due to the base sizes in specific areas and the wide geographic area covered by regions.

Two summary self-reported measures are used in this report:

• ‘Awareness’ encompasses all respondents who said they had heard of a particular concept or technology, including those who said they know ‘hardly anything but I’ve heard of this’, ‘a little’, ‘a fair amount’ or ‘a lot’.
• ‘Knowledge’ encompasses those who said that they know ‘a fair amount’ or ‘a lot’ about a topic.

Awareness of Net Zero

In June 2019, the government announced a target which will require the UK to bring all greenhouse gas emissions to Net Zero by 2050. Before asking about the level of awareness, respondents were provided with a brief description as follows: ‘The UK government is aiming to reduce UK greenhouse gas emissions to ‘Net Zero’ by 2050. This will involve significantly reducing emissions produced by our industries, transport, food, and homes. Any remaining emissions will be balanced by actions that reduce greenhouse gases already in the atmosphere, such as planting trees’.

Figure 1.1 displays both the longer-term trends in overall awareness and knowledge (A lot/fair amount) of Net Zero (line chart) and the detailed awareness and knowledge data for the most recent two waves alongside the baseline (bar chart).

Over the longer-term, levels of awareness have remained broadly stable at around 89-91% since Winter 2021. Overall knowledge increased to 53% in Spring 2024 and has remained at a similar level since.

In Summer 2025, overall awareness of Net Zero returned to 91%, a slight increase since Spring 2025 (89%).

Figure 1.1: Awareness of the concept of ‘Net Zero’ (% based on all people), Autumn 2021 to Summer 2025

NZKNOW. The UK government is aiming to reduce UK greenhouse gas emissions to ‘Net Zero’ by 2050. This will involve significantly reducing emissions produced by our industries, transport, food, and homes. Any remaining emissions will be balanced by actions that reduce greenhouse gases already in the atmosphere, such as planting trees. Before today, how much, if anything, did you know about the concept of ‘Net Zero’?

Base: All wave respondents – Autumn 2021 (5,558), Winter 2021 (3,705), Spring 2022 (4,374), Summer 2022 (4,489), Autumn 2022 (4,158), Winter 2022 (3,572), Spring 2023 (4,405), Summer 2023 (3,998), Winter 2023 (3,741), Spring 2024 (4,085), Summer 2024 (3,640), Winter 2024 (3,214), Spring 2025 (3,411), Summer 2025 (3,526) (Asked each wave).

Note: On the line chart, arrows denote a significant difference between one wave and the next. For the bar chart, significant differences are noted between Autumn 2021 and Spring 2025, and between Spring 2025 and Summer 2025.

Analysis by subgroups

Overall awareness of Net Zero was higher among the following subgroups:

• People in age groups 55 and over: between 95% and 96% compared with 86% of those in both age groups 16-24 and 25-34.
• People with a degree: 96% compared with 86% of those with no qualifications.
• People living in London, the South East and West Midlands (all 93%); in contrast the lowest levels were reported in the North East (85%) and in Yorkshire and the Humber (87%).

Self-reported knowledge of Net Zero (the percentage who said they knew a lot or a fair amount) followed a similar trend, and was higher among the following subgroups:

• People in age groups 55 and over: between 57% and 59% compared with between 47% and 50% of those in age groups from 16 to 44.
• People with a degree: 69% compared with 47% of those with another kind of qualification and 37% of those with no qualifications.
• People living in London (63%), the South East (59%), and the East and West Midlands (both 58%); in contrast, the lowest levels were reported in Yorkshire and the Humber (38%), Wales (40%) and Northern Ireland (43%).

Attitudes towards Net Zero

Each Summer, questions are asked about attitudes towards Net Zero in terms of anticipated impact on the UK economy, and perceived confidence in ability to meet the Net Zero target. These questions are preceded by the following introductory text:

And now thinking again about the UK government’s aim to reduce UK greenhouse gas emissions to Net Zero by 2050 to tackle climate change. This will involve large changes to the way we produce and use energy in homes, businesses and transport.

Questions on these topics were asked in two parts: firstly, people were asked to consider the short-term impacts of Net Zero (1-2 years); and secondly, people were asked to consider the longer-term impacts (10 years or more).

In Summer 2025, similar to previous summer waves, the expected impact of Net Zero on the UK economy was more likely to be negative (41%) than positive (22%) in the short term. However, in the longer term, expectations remained more positive (49%) than negative (22%) (Figure 1.2).

The proportion expecting a negative impact had, however, increased since Summer 2024 in both the short term (41% up from 37%) and the long term (22% up from 20%). Conversely, there were reduced expectations of a positive impact in the long term (49% down from 54% in Summer 2024).

Figure 1.2: Expected impact of UK’s transition to Net Zero on UK economy (% based on all people), Summer 2023, 2024, and 2025

NZTRANSITA-B. What impact do you think the UK’s transition to Net Zero might have on the UK economy?

Base: All wave respondents – Summer 2023 / Summer 2024 / Summer 2025: Short term (3,969/3,627/3,504), Long term (3,975/3,623/3,508).

Analysis by subgroups

In terms of perceptions of impact of Net Zero on the UK economy:

By age:

• Older people were less likely to expect a positive impact in the short term (15% of those aged 65 and over compared to between 20% and 27% of people in age groups from 16 to 64). There were similar age differences in respect to views on longer-term positive impacts (40-42% of those aged 55 and over compared to 57% of people in age groups from 16 to 34).

By geography:

• People living in the East Midlands (28%), the North East (26%), the West Midlands and London (both 25%) were most likely to perceive a positive impact in the short term (the UK average was 22%). London residents were also more likely than all other regions to perceive a positive impact in the long term (62% compared with 49% overall).
• Residents in the South West (16%) were least likely to expect a positive impact in the short term while residents in Wales (37%) were least likely to expect a positive impact in the long term.

By education:

• People with a degree were more likely to expect a longer-term positive impact (60%) than those with another kind of qualification (44%) or no qualifications (39%).

By self-reported knowledge of Net Zero:

• Those who said they knew a lot or a fair amount about Net Zero were more likely to expect a positive impact in the longer term (56% compared with 42% of those who said they knew hardly anything and 31% of those not aware). This group was also more likely to expect a negative impact in the shorter term (51% compared with 33% of those who said they knew hardly anything and 18% of those not aware).

In Summer 2025, 69% of people expected their regular living expenses to increase in the short term because of the transition to Net Zero, up from 65% in Summer 2024 (Figure 1.3). Only 7% expected Net Zero to result in a short-term decrease in their regular living expenses.

While people were more positive about the impact of the transition to Net Zero in the longer term compared with the shorter term, people were still more likely to expect an increase (50%) than a decrease (25%) in regular living expenses. These findings remain in line with previous waves.

Figure 1.3: Expected impact of UK’s transition to Net Zero on regular living expenses (% based on all people), Summer 2023, Summer 2024, Summer 2025

NZFINANCEA-B. And what impact do you think that the UK’s transition to Net Zero might have on your regular living expenses (for example energy, food, travel)?

Base: All wave respondents – Summer 2023 / Summer 2024 / Summer 2025: Short term (3,979/3,633/3,517), Long term (3,974/3,622/3,506).

Analysis by subgroups

In terms of perceptions of impact of Net Zero on personal regular living expenses:

By age:

• Older people were more likely than younger people to expect an increase in their regular living expenses in the short term: between 71% and 77% of people in age groups 55 and over compared to 62% of those aged under 25.
• This age difference was more accentuated when considering longer-term impacts on living expenses: between 58% and 60% of people in age groups 55 and over expected an increase, declining to 29% of those aged under 25.

By geography:

• Expectations of a short-term increase in living expenses were highest in the East of England (75%), the South West (74%) and in London, the East Midlands and the West Midlands (all 72%); in contrast people were least likely to expect a short-term increase in the North East (56%) and Yorkshire and the Humber (60%).
• Expectations of a longer-term increase were highest in Wales and the East Midlands (both 56%) and lowest in London (42%).

By education:

• People with no qualifications were more likely to expect an increase in the long term (57% vs 45% of those with a degree).

By self-reported knowledge of Net Zero:

• An expectation of increased living expenses in the short term was higher for those who said they knew a lot or a fair amount about Net Zero (75% vs 49% of those not aware of Net Zero).

In Summer 2025, 17% said they were confident (very or fairly confident) that the UK is on track to meet the Net Zero target by 2050, slightly lower than in Summer 2024 (20%), returning to Summer 2023 baseline levels (Figure 1.4). Overall, 72% said they were not very or not at all confident, up from 69% in Summer 2024; in particular, 24% said they were not at all confident, up from 19%.

Figure 1.4: Confidence that UK is on track to meet Net Zero target by 2050 (% based on all people), Summer 2023, Summer 2024, Summer 2025

NZCONF. How confident are you that the UK is on track to meet its Net zero target by 2050?

Base: All wave respondents – Summer 2023: (3,999), Summer 2024 (3,640), Summer 2025 (3,522).

Analysis by subgroups^{[footnote 1]}

There were few differences by the highlighted subgroups in level of confidence that the UK will meet its target. However, a lack of confidence in ability to meet the Net Zero target was higher among the following subgroups:

• People with any qualifications: 75% of people with a degree and 74% of those with another kind of qualification vs 65% of those with no qualifications.
• People living in the South West and Scotland (both 77%), South East (76%) and the West Midlands (75%); in contrast lack of confidence was lowest in the North East and North West (both 64%) and in London (66%).
• People who said they knew a lot or a fair amount about Net Zero: 78% said they were not confident compared with 42% of those unaware of Net Zero.

Concern about climate change

Overall levels of concern about climate change have decreased between Autumn 2021 and Summer 2025 from 85% to 79%. The proportion saying they were very concerned has decreased from 44% to 37% over this same period (Figure 1.5).

Focussing on more recent waves, levels of concern have been largely consistent since Winter 2023, with levels of concern in Summer 2025 (79%) returning to higher levels after a dip in Spring 2025 (77%).

Figure 1.5: Concern about climate change (% based on all people), Autumn 2021 to Summer 2025

CLIMCONCERN. How concerned, if at all, are you about climate change, sometimes referred to as ‘global warming’?

Base: All wave respondents – Autumn 2021 (5,557), Winter 2021 (3,701), Spring 2022 (4,375), Summer 2022 (4,490), Autumn 2022 (4,158), Winter 2022 (3,571), Spring 2023 (4,405), Summer 2023 (3,998), Winter 2023 (3,739), Spring 2024 (4,086), Summer 2024 (3,644), Winter 2024 (3,213), Spring 2025 (3,408), Summer 2025 (3,531) (Asked each wave).

Note: On the line chart, arrows denote a significant difference between one wave and the next. For the bar chart, significant differences are noted between Autumn 2021 and Spring 2025, and between Spring 2025 and Summer 2025.

Analysis by subgroups^{[footnote 2]}

The proportion reporting that they were very concerned about climate change was higher among the following subgroups:

• People with a degree: 48% compared with 30% of those with another kind of qualification, and 32% of those with no qualifications.
• People living in London and the West Midlands (both 44%) and the East of England and the South West (both 42%); in contrast people living in Wales (25%) and in Yorkshire and the Humber (29%) were least likely to be very concerned.

People were most likely to say that they were not very or not at all concerned about climate change in Northern Ireland (31%) and Wales (27%); in contrast people in Scotland (15%) were least likely to report a lack of concern.

Consistently over time, climate change concern has been higher for women than men. However, over time concern has fallen more for men than women leading to an increasing gender gap. For example, when the time series started in Autumn 2021, 87% of women and 82% of men were concerned about climate change (a 5-percentage point difference), while in Summer 2025, 83% of women and 75% of men said they were concerned (an 8-percentage point difference).

Attitudes towards climate change

In summer survey waves people are asked how much they agree or disagree with a range of attitude statements towards climate change. Figure 1.6 shows the results for attitudes related to behaviour, and Figure 1.7 shows attitudes related to information.

In terms of attitudes towards behaviour and climate change (Figure 1.6) there is a pattern of declining confidence over time that changes in behaviour can make a difference:

• While most people (80%) agreed that if everyone does their bit, we can reduce the effects of climate change, this has fallen since Summer 2024 (84%). Those who did not agree or disagree (10%) also increased from Summer 2024 (8%).
• There has also been a steady decline over time in people’s belief that they personally can make changes to help reduce climate change: from 76% in Summer 2022 to 69% in Summer 2025.
• Disagreement with the statement ‘It is not worth doing things to help climate change if others don’t do the same’ has also declined over time from 58% in Summer 2022 to 49% in Summer 2025.

Figure 1.6: Attitudes towards climate change behaviours (% based on all people) Summer 2022 to Summer 2025

CCATTA-E. How much do you agree or disagree with the following statements?

Base: All wave respondents – Summer 2022/Summer 2023/Summer 2024/Summer 2025: Everyone does their bit (4,484/3,984/3,632/3,521), I have ability (4,474/3,976/3,632/3,509), Not worth doing (4,470/3,979/3,637/3,514).

Note: The chart for this question has been separated into two sections to enhance readability.

In terms of attitudes towards information on climate change (Figure 1.7), in Summer 2025 53% of people agreed that there is so much conflicting information about climate change it is difficult to know what to believe. This figure has increased since the baseline of Summer 2022 (47%) but has remained broadly stable between Summer 2023 and Summer 2025.

A third (33%) agreed that the media exaggerates the impacts of climate change. Similar to above, this has increased since Summer 2022 (30%) but has remained stable over the last three waves.

Figure 1.7: Attitudes towards climate change information (% based on all people), Summer 2022 to Summer 2025)

CCATTA-E. How much do you agree or disagree with the following statements?

Base: All wave respondents – Summer 2022/Summer 2023/Summer 2024/Summer 2025: So much conflicting information (4,475/3,984/3,633/3,515), Media exaggerates (4,473/3,981/3,634/3,512).

Note: The chart for this question has been separated into two sections to enhance readability.

Analysis by subgroups

By age:

Younger people in age groups from 16 to 44 were generally more positive than older people in age groups 55 and over. For example:      

• People aged under 25 were most likely to agree they can make changes to help reduce climate change: 74% compared to 64% of those aged 65 and over.
• Younger people were also less likely to agree that helping to reduce climate change is not worth it if others don’t do the same: 29% to 31% of those in age groups 16 to 44 compared with 45% to 46% of those aged 55 or over.
• People aged 55 and over were more likely to agree that there is so much conflicting information it is difficult to know what to believe (63% compared with between 40% and 46% of those aged 16 to 44).
• Those aged 65 and older were more likely to agree that the media exaggerates the impact of climate change (40% compared with 19% of those aged 16-24).

By education:

• 85% of those with a degree agreed that if everyone does their bit, we can reduce the effects of climate change, compared with 74% of those with no qualifications.
• 37% of those without qualifications agreed that the media exaggerates the impacts of climate change compared with 26% of those with a degree.

By geography:

People living in London were consistently more positive about behaviours and information compared with other regions, while people living in Scotland and Wales tended to be less positive on some measures. For example:

• Agreement that it is not worth doing things to help if others don’t do the same was lowest in London (30%) and the North East (28%); and highest in Scotland (48%) and in Wales (40%).
• Agreement that there is so much conflicting information it is difficult to know what to believe was lowest in London (43%) and highest in Wales (60%) and Scotland (59%).

Behaviours to tackle climate change

Respondents are asked annually about climate-change related behaviours adopted in their everyday life. Figure 1.8 shows the results for the Summer 2022 baseline and the two most recent waves.

In Summer 2025, as in previous waves, almost everyone reported at least one of the listed actions (98%). Actions to minimise waste were most reported: 87% said they recycled household waste, and 77% that they avoided or minimised food waste.

Energy saving measures were the next most reported, but these were lower than at previous waves: 75% said they minimised energy use at home (down from 79% in Summer 2024), while 46% took energy efficiency into account when making a product purchase (down from 49%).

Transport-related behaviours were reported by lower proportions: 51% said they chose to walk or cycle and 41% said that they chose to use public transport, instead of using a car. While relatively few said they drove an electric or hybrid car (15%), this had increased over time from 10% in Summer 2022 and 12% in Summer 2024.

Figure 1.8: Behaviours related to reducing climate change adopted in everyday life (% based on all people), baseline (Summer 2022) and two most recent waves (Summer 2024 & Summer 2025)

CCBEHAVE. Thinking now about your everyday life, do you do any of these things? Please select all that apply.

Base: All wave respondents – Summer 2022 (4,488), Summer 2024 (3,643), Summer 2025 (3,532).

Note: This chart contains data from the baseline wave of Summer 2022 and the two most recent waves. Data from Summer 2023 has been omitted to improve readability and can be found in the published time series file.

Analysis by subgroups

By age:

Recycling, minimising food waste, and minimising energy use were most likely to be reported by older people:

• For example, 84% of those in age bands 55 and over reported minimising energy use at home, declining to 58% of those aged under 25.

Transport-related behaviours varied by age across the different behaviours. For example:

• Choosing public transport was reported most by those aged under 25: 57% compared with between 33% and 42% of those in all older age groups 25 and over.
• Driving an electric or hybrid car was reported more by those in age groups between 35 and 64: between 17% and 18% compared with between 10% and 11% of those in age groups under 35.

By education:

• People with a degree were more likely to report each of these behaviours, particularly compared with those with no qualifications. For example, 48% of those with a degree reported choosing public transport compared with 33% of those with no qualifications.

By geography:

• People living in the East of England were most likely to report minimising energy use at home (83% vs 75% overall), thinking about energy efficiency of product purchases (54% vs 46% overall) and driving an electric or hybrid car (21% vs 15% overall).
• People living in London were most likely to report choosing to walk or cycle (71% vs 51% overall) or choosing public transport instead of using a car (74% vs 41% overall).

By self-reported knowledge of Net Zero:

• People who said they knew a lot or a fair amount about Net Zero were more likely to report all climate-related behaviours. The largest difference was observed for thinking about energy efficiency of products when making a purchase (56% compared with 25% of those who had not heard of Net Zero).

By concern about climate change:

• People who said they were very concerned about climate change were more likely to report all behaviours. The largest differences related to choosing an alternative transport method rather than using a car; for example, 53% of those who were very concerned choose to use public transport instead of a car, compared with 23% of those not very or not at all concerned about climate change.

Behaviours thought to have the biggest impact on tackling climate change

Respondents were presented with a list of actions that people can take in their everyday life and asked to identify up to three that they thought would have the biggest impact on tackling climate change in the UK. Figure 1.9 shows the results for the Summer 2022 baseline and the two most recent waves.

The proportion of people saying that none of the actions on the list would have an impact remains low, but has risen steadily over time, from 3% in Summer 2022 to 8% in Summer 2025.

In Summer 2025, the three climate change mitigation actions thought to be most impactful were choosing to walk or cycle rather than using a car (39%), minimising daily energy use at home (38%), and installing a low carbon heating system (33%).

Around three in ten chose the following behaviours in their top three: installing insulation and draught proofing (31%) and public transport use (29%, down from 31% in Summer 2024 but up from 22% in Summer 2022).

As in previous summer waves, the lowest ranked options were avoiding food waste (17%) and thinking about energy efficiency when making a purchase (14%).

Figure 1.9: Behaviours thought to have the biggest impact on tackling climate change in the UK - up to three responses were selected (% based on all people), baseline (Summer 2022) and two most recent waves (Summer 2024 & Summer 2025)

CCIMPORT. If most people in the UK did the following, which three of these do you think would have the biggest impact on tackling climate change in the UK? Please select up to three responses.

Base: All wave respondents – Summer 2022 (4,436), Summer 2024 (3,607), Summer 2025 (3,486).

Note: This chart contains data from the baseline wave of Summer 2022 and the two most recent waves. Data from Summer 2023 has been omitted to improve readability and can be found in the published time series file.

Analysis by subgroups

By age:

• People in age groups under 45 were most likely to choose walking or cycling instead of using a car in their top three climate change tackling behaviours: between 45% and 47% compared with 28% of those aged 65 and over.
• People aged 65 and over were most likely to select installing insulation at home: 38% declining to 20% of those aged under 25.

By education:

• People with a degree were more likely than those with no qualifications to select installing low carbon heating systems (41% vs 24%) and installing insulation (39% vs 24%).
• Conversely, those with no qualifications were more likely than those with a degree to select recycling household waste (38% vs 21%) and minimising food waste (25% vs 15%).

By self-reported knowledge of Net Zero:

• People who reported knowing a lot or a fair amount about Net Zero were more likely than those who were not aware of Net Zero to select installing low carbon heating systems (39% vs 17%), installing insulation (38% vs 17%) and choosing public transport (31% vs 21%). This group were, however, also more likely to say that none of the actions would have an impact on climate change (10%, compared with 5%).

Information on tackling climate change

In Summer waves, people are presented with a range of potential sources of information and asked about their level of trust in each to provide accurate information about climate change. Overall trust is defined as trusting each source ‘a great deal’ or ‘to some extent’. Figure 1.10 shows the results for the Summer 2022 baseline and the two most recent waves.

Focussing largely on overall trust for each as a source of accurate information on climate change, in Summer 2025:

• Scientists at universities (85%) and scientific organisations (83%) remained the two most trusted sources, with around four in ten saying they trusted each a great deal (40% and 39% respectively). Further sources trusted by at least six in ten included TV and radio documentaries (70%), charities (63%) and TV news (61%).
• The least trusted sources of accurate information on climate change were UK Government (50%), newspapers or their websites (39%) and social media (16%).
• There have been declining levels of trust between Summer 2025 and Summer 2024 on five measures: TV and radio documentaries (70%, down from 72%); TV news (61%, down from 65%); UK Government (50%, down from 57%); newspapers and their websites (39% down from 43%); and social media (16%, down from 18%).

Figure 1.10: Trust in sources of information to provide accurate information on climate change (% based on all people), baseline (Summer 2022) and two most recent waves (Summer 2024 & Summer 2025)

CCTRUSTA-H. How much do you trust each of the following to provide accurate information about climate change?  *social media examples were updated to change ‘Twitter’ to ‘X (formerly Twitter)’.

Base: All wave respondents – Summer 2022/Summer 2024/Summer 2025: Scientists at universities (4,464/3,614/3,509), Scientific organisations (4,463/3,620/3,514), TV & radio documentaries (4,464/3,623/3,509), Charities and environmental groups (4,458/3,621/3,511), TV news (4,468/3,630/3,504), UK Government (4,457/3,616/3,513), Newspapers (4,456/3,625/3,506), Social media (4,443/3,619/3,484).

Note: This chart contains data from the baseline wave of Summer 2022 and the two most recent waves. Data from Summer 2023 has been omitted to improve readability and can be found in the published time series file.

Analysis by subgroups

By age:

• People in age groups under 45 were more likely to trust scientists at universities, charities and UK government, compared with those in age groups 55 and over. For example: between 54% and 57% of people in age groups under 45 trusted UK government, compared with between 45% and 46% of those in age groups 55 and over.
• Trust in social media was highest for those aged under 25 (29%) declining to 7% of those aged 65 and over.

By education:

• For all sources other than social media, trust was higher among those with a degree and lowest for those with no qualifications. For example, trust in the UK Government was 61% of those with a degree vs 40% of those with no qualifications.

By geography:

• Relatively higher levels of trust were reported in London for all sources of information, with levels of trust generally lower in Wales. For example:
  • Trust in TV news was higher in London (68%) and lower in Wales (55%) and Yorkshire and the Humber (54%), with the same pattern of difference for newspapers.
  • Trust in UK government was higher in London (65%) and Northern Ireland (60%) and lower in Wales (38%) and Scotland (39%).
  • Trust in TV and radio documentaries was lower in Wales (56%) than in all other regions. There was a similar pattern for charities (43% in Wales).
• Trust in scientific organisations was lowest in Yorkshire and the Humber (73%) and the East Midlands (75%) with levels of trust also lower in these areas for scientists in universities (77% and 73% respectively).

By self-reported knowledge of Net Zero:

• For all sources other than social media, trust was higher among those who reported more knowledge about Net Zero. For example, trust in newspapers was 45% among those who said they knew a lot or a fair amount vs 26% not aware of Net Zero.
• Those not aware of Net Zero were more likely to say they trust social media (27%) compared to those who said they knew at least a fair amount (13%).

Further findings on Net Zero and climate change

In previous waves, questions were included on other topics relating to Net Zero and climate change. The latest findings relating to these topics can be found as follows:

• Sources of information on climate change and information needs, see Winter 2024 report on Net Zero and climate change - section on ‘Information on tackling climate change’
• Perceptions on the role of the UK as a global leader in tackling climate change, see Winter 2024 report on Net Zero and climate change - section on ‘Climate change leadership

1. Age is not included in the subgroup analysis as no clear differences were reported. ↩

2. Age is not included in the subgroup analysis as no clear differences were reported. ↩